NEIL LENNON will watch a video of Inter Milan’s defensive masterclass in the Nou Camp under Jose Mourinho to seek a way to stop the attacking threat of Barcelona.

But the Celtic boss is adamant he won’t send his team out in Spain simply to stop the Catalan giants on Tuesday night as he looks to take the Hoops a step closer to the Champions League last-16.

The Parkhead side face their toughest 90 minutes in Group G against the four-time European champions who have lost just once on home soil in the competition in almost four years.

Celtic – ranked as 20/1 outsiders to win in the Nou Camp – can take heart from that defeat in 2009 because Russian side Rubin Kazan were huge underdogs before they pulled off a 2-1 win.

And the Hoops can draw on Lennon’s own personal experience as he is undefeated on two visits to Barcelona.

But it’s footage from a dramatic night in the Nou Camp two years ago that Lennon is most keen to view.

Inter Milan, protecting a 3-1 first-leg lead, were forced to play for more than an hour with 10 men yet still managed to progress despite Gerard Pique’s late goal for Barca setting up a frantic finale.

The Celtic boss said: “I watched the Inter Milan game a couple of years ago and a few people have recommended it to me as well so I’ll watch that again.

“Inter lost 1-0 that night but they did enough to get through.

“What you need is a strong will and that’s what Inter Milan has under Mourinho.

“So I will watch that match and, obviously, Chelsea 2-2 draw in the Nou Camp last season.

“But what I won’t do is set my team up just to sit in.

“We will endeavour to have a go because if you plan to sit in then go a goal behind after five minutes that’s it – your game plan is out the window and you need to have a Plan B.

“I always think you need to be flexible and we have got players who can be.

“We’ll try to set up in a way to combat them but I want us to create chances.

“It is very exciting. It is a great challenge tactically and one we are all looking forward to. It’s do-able, it’s feasible.

“I’ve seen Spanish clubs do it and I’ve seen European teams do it.”

Neil Lennon

Lennon could spend hours watching footage of Barca in action but knows there’s no substitute for seeing them live.

That’s why he travelled to the Riazor Stadium for Barca’s La Liga clash last night with Deportivo La Coruna.

He said: “You can watch them endlessly on TV but I always feel you get a better view of things when you see them live.

“We all know how good they are but seeing in person how they shape up might give us a better idea of where we are and what type of team they are.”

Tuesday night will be a return for the Hoops boss to the stadium where, as a player, he earned a battling scoreless draw in 2004 to progress in the UEFA Cup.

It was the night when Scotland keeper David Marshall came of age with a superb display between the sticks.

The following season John Hartson scored in a 1-1 draw at Barcelona – but Lennon’s side still crashed out of their Champions League group.

So what will he need to secure a result against all the odds? Lennon smiled: “A good goalkeeper and probably a bit of luck as well. Well, a huge slice of luck!

“Seriously, look at Spartak Moscow who went there in the first group game and were leading 2-1 with 20 minutes to go.

“They created chances and I want us to create chances.

“I want us to have an avenue where we’ll not be sitting in all night and just booting the ball up the pitch and watching it come straight back to us.

“You do not consciously sit back because Barcelona can make very good teams – teams better than us – look ordinary.

“They pin you back for long periods but I still want us to have some kind of outlet where we can get a foothold in our attacking half and create chances.

“I know that’s easier said than done and we will need pace in the team so I’ll look at that. We’re hoping James Forrest will be fit as he is an asset no matter who we’re playing.

“Whether he starts or comes off the bench, I’m sure he’ll feature at some stage.

“We are going to try to get something out of the game but we know how monumentally difficult that will be.

“I’m delighted with our approach in our recent good away run and we’ve created chances in all those games. I'm hoping we can do that again on Tuesday.

“I’ve played twice in the Nou Camp and drawn twice – I don’t think there are many players who are undefeated going there!

“A lot of luck was involved, a lot of top goalkeeping as well as heroic defending at times.

“Marshall made two or three wonder saves in the first game and in the second match they had the bulk of possession but we drew 1-1.

“I can’t remember Barcelona having loads of chances in that match and I hope that will be the same on Tuesday.

“You can pass on your own memories but these boys will be experiencing it themselves for the first time and it will be a different pace, tempo and quality of player from what they are used to.

“Concentration is key. What I want from the team on Tuesday is not to be fazed.

“Seeing the Nou Camp on TV and seeing it in real life are two totally different things but we’ll try to prepare as best we can.”

As a former midfielder, Lennon appreciates only too well the incredible talent Barcelona boast in that area.

In Xavi and Andres Iniesta they have two of the most gifted playmakers in the history of football.

Lennon said: “Xavi and Iniesta are two of the greatest midfielders who ever graced the game. They play a hell of a lot of football for Barca and Spain but you never hear them complaining about tiredness.

“They’re always there. Dominating possession, dominating the ball.

“Iniesta wasn’t involved against Celtic but Xavi was – and he was brilliant.

“They are the opposite of what everyone perceives as the modern footballer: big tall, athletic, powerful player.

“Xavi and Iniesta might be diminutive in stature but they are giants of the game.”